Small gaps can occur in Sketcher objects when you import sketch geometry or when you use the Project Edges tool on edges that are not in a plane parallel to the sketch plane. The Merge tool from the Sketcher toolbox closes these small gaps by moving one or more vertices near the gap to a point on the other side. ABAQUS/CAE enables you to choose the vertex that you want to remain stationary, and the merge operation moves any vertices within a specified tolerance radius across the gap to share the same point as your selected vertex. Figure 19–28 shows a simple merge operation, closing the upper gap between two sketcher objects.
Note: The Merge tool is intended only for closing small gaps. Merging edges to close larger gaps may change the sketch geometry significantly. If you want to move elements in a sketch over a large distance, use the vertex modification tool from the Sketcher toolbox to translate vertices in your sketch to a new location. For more information, see “Moving and resizing Sketcher objects by moving their vertices,” Section 19.14.1.
To merge edges:
From the modify tools in the Sketcher toolbox, select the Merge tool 
. For a diagram of the tools in the Sketcher toolbox, see “The Sketcher tools,” Section 19.4.1.
ABAQUS/CAE displays prompts in the prompt area to guide you through the procedure.
Select one of the vertices near the small gap.
Click Done in the prompt area.
ABAQUS/CAE prompts you for a Tolerance number for this merge operation.
Enter a value for the tolerance, or accept the default value of 0.001. Then either press Enter, or click mouse button 2.
ABAQUS/CAE allows you to increase the tolerance, but you should avoid merges that change the sketch geometry significantly.
If any vertices are within the selected tolerance, ABAQUS/CAE merges them to the location of the vertex you selected in Step 2.
To merge more edges, repeat the above steps beginning with Step 2.
When you have finished merging edges, either
Click mouse button 2 anywhere in the ABAQUS/CAE window, or
Select any other tool in the Sketcher toolbox, or
Click the cancel button 
in the prompt area, or
Click the merge tool in the Sketcher toolbox.
